The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 592 - 591 Agree to Withdraw Shares

Chapter 592: Chapter 591 Agree to Withdraw Shares

"Shen Mingzhu!"

Watching Shen Baolan come storming in alone, Shen Mingzhu wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

In fact, before Shen Baolan arrived, she had even made a bet with Pei Yang.

She bet that Shen Baolan wouldn’t let things slide and just watch her and Pei Yang "reap the rewards without lifting a finger."

"If you have something to say, spit it out. I’m busy," Shen Mingzhu was equally blunt.

Shen Baolan fumed, "Where’s your husband Pei Yang? Let him come out. I want to talk to you two about the electronic factory."

Shen Mingzhu smirked and stepped aside to let Shen Baolan in, "Fine, come in and we’ll talk."

Outside it was bitterly cold, and she certainly didn’t want to stand around in the chill.

"Pei Yang, my Shuhuan is a man of deep feelings and loyalty. There are things he’s too embarrassed to mention, so he sent me to speak."

Shen Baolan got straight to the point before she even warmed her seat, "You lent money to my Shuhuan to help start the electronic factory. Our whole family is grateful for your kindness, but the factory’s success today is all thanks to my Shuhuan’s hard work. He built it from the ground up. You haven’t done anything; it’s inappropriate for you to take so much profit for nothing, right?"

"Here’s what we’ll do, we don’t want you to feel short-changed, so we’ll return your forty thousand, and on top of that, we’ll give you ten thousand as a thank-you. Then you give the factory shares back to Shuhuan."

"If you think ten thousand is too little, we can negotiate and add a bit more, but you must return the factory shares to Shuhuan."

"Pei Yang, Shuhuan treats you as a good brother, but you can’t take advantage of him. Ask yourself, have you put in any effort into the electronic factory at all? Are you at ease pocketing the money he’s worked himself to the bone for?"

Pei Yang replied nonchalantly, "If you aren’t ashamed to betray someone after crossing the river, why should I feel guilty about taking what I rightfully deserve?"

Nicely countered.

Shen Mingzhu didn’t skimp on her praise, giving her man a thumbs-up.

Pei Yang couldn’t help but feel smug; if he had a tail, he’d probably have wagged it to the skies.

"Saying we’re betraying someone after crossing the river—I think it’s you two who are pushing things too far! My Shuhuan, remembering brotherhood, has been willing to share his hard-earned money with you, and you have the nerve to take it. Aren’t you ashamed? Have you two become so blinded by greed?"

"We can back out of the shares."

Shen Baolan was ranting when she was caught off-guard by Shen Mingzhu’s agreement, stunned at first, then wildly ecstatic.

"Mingzhu, you promised this yourself. If you dare go back on your word, may the heavens strike you with lightning, and may you meet a wretched end! Wait here, I’ll call Shuhuan over."

Saying that, Shen Baolan bolted for the door, as if she wished she had wings to fly back with.

"You really want to back out of the shares?"

Pei Yang, well aware that his wife was not someone to be easily manipulated, was curious about what Shen Mingzhu was up to.

Shen Mingzhu replied, "It’s a business deal, after all. As long as the price is right, there’s nothing that can’t be done."

After all, the video game console boom was only going to last for a couple more years, and if she could get her profits in advance, she’d be making a gain!

Pei Yang, not aware of Shen Mingzhu’s foresight, simply felt that she was magnanimous and strategic in her dealings, which made him respect and take pride in her even more.

Shen Mingzhu then made a phone call to the lawyer and continued to get busy preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner.

...

Shen Baolan had finally found Zhou Shuhuan at a teahouse, sitting at a mahjong table.

"Shuhuan, stop playing; I have something to tell you."

Seeing Zhou Shuhuan ignoring her, Shen Baolan just reached out and disrupted the mahjong game.

The other players at the table were naturally unhappy, but they held back for the sake of Zhou Shuhuan’s face.

After all, Zhou Shuhuan was now a cut above his former self—a big boss they all envied and sought to curry favor with.

"Shen Baolan, are you out of your damn mind?"

Seeing Zhou Shuhuan’s anger, Shen Baolan couldn’t help feeling a bit intimidated, but then she thought about the huge favor she had quietly managed to do, saving her family a huge fortune—she was a hero.

The Zhou family had hit the jackpot in nabbing a capable daughter-in-law like her!

"Shuhuan, Pei Yang has something urgent to discuss with you—he wants you to come over right now."

Upon hearing that Pei Yang was looking for him, Zhou Shuhuan reined in his anger and was about to apologize to his card mates, but they spoke up first.

"Shuhuan, if you have important matters, go take care of them. We can get together after you’re done."

"Yeah, hurry along. We can have drinks together when you’re free."

Looking at one obsequious smile after another, Zhou Shuhuan once again realized money was a good thing.

In the past, these people would have started swearing long ago.

"Did Brother Yang mention what it was about?"

Leaving the teahouse, Zhou Shuhuan walked toward the parking area and asked Shen Baolan, who was following beside him.

"Let’s talk in the car, it’s good news."

Shen Baolan couldn’t hide her excitement, which made Zhou Shuhuan look at her suspiciously.

Once they were in the car, Shen Baolan spilled the beans about her visit to the Pei Family to ask Pei Yang for a share buy-back.

After listening, Zhou Shuhuan didn’t speak, but his face darkened significantly.

Unable to help herself, Shen Baolan urged, "Shuhuan, don’t be foolish, holding on to such nonsense as brotherly love, and just giving away a huge amount of money to outsiders."

"After all, it was something Shen Mingzhu agreed to herself. As long as we pay them back forty thousand, they will return the electronic factory shares to us."

"Mom and Dad agree on this too. While they’ve relaxed their stance, we must settle this today no matter what. At worst, we can give them an extra ten thousand as a thank-you fee."

"They haven’t done anything and earn twenty thousand in less than a year; they aren’t at a loss."

"Shut up!!"

Under Zhou Shuhuan’s cold rebuke, Shen Baolan sulkily closed her mouth.

...

They arrived at the Pei Family home.

"Brother Yang, I..."

Pei Yang cut Zhou Shuhuan off with a smile, saying, "Let’s talk inside."

Zhou Shuhuan nodded and stepped inside, with Shen Baolan following closely behind him.

In the living room, Shen Mingzhu was discussing matters with a somewhat familiar-looking young man.

Recognizing the man as the lawyer who had represented Pei Yang in signing a contract in Fucheng, Zhou Shuhuan’s heart inevitably tightened.

"You’re here, please sit down."

Shen Mingzhu got up to greet the couple, her demeanor light but with a business-like remoteness.

"This is Lawyer Bai Chuan. We’ve entrusted him with the matter of the share buy-back. You can discuss it with him."

Having said that, Shen Mingzhu turned to head for the kitchen, but was stopped by Shen Baolan.

"Don’t go just yet. You agreed before, we will pay you back forty thousand, and you’ll hand over the electronic factory shares. Don’t think about going back on your word."

"Ms. Shen Baolan, regarding the share buy-back, it’s sufficient to discuss it with me," Lawyer Bai Chuan interjected in a very professional and appropriate manner, blocking Shen Baolan’s harassment on Shen Mingzhu’s behalf.

Shen Mingzhu took the opportunity to leave.

She couldn’t be bothered to argue with Shen Baolan, thinking it was a better use of her time to prepare a couple more dishes to make the New Year’s Eve dinner more abundant.

Shen Baolan, not content to let it go, but blocked by Bai Chuan, eventually turned her head to reason with Pei Yang.

"Pei Yang, we had an agreement..."

"I’ll listen to Mingzhu. Whatever she says goes," Pei Yang responded, unfazed.

Shen Baolan was choked by his firm response and couldn’t help but retort sarcastically, "Are you still a man, letting her, Shen Mingzhu, make all the decisions in such a big matter."

Pei Yang remained unconcerned, "Family matters are not a concern for an outsider like you. Hurry up and get to business. It’s the New Year; we don’t want to delay the New Year’s Eve dinner."